Kremlin: Adoption deal with US valid until 2014

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin says an adoption deal with the U.S. will remain valid until 2014 despite a new Russian law banning the practice.

Last month, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning Americans from adopting Russian children, part of a harsh response to a U.S. law targeting Russians deemed to be violating human rights. Although some top Russian officials including the foreign minister openly opposed the bill, the parliament overwhelmingly passed it.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, according to the state RIA Novosti news agency, that the adoptions agreement will remain in force until Jan. 1, 2014. Under the agreement, it’s valid for a year after one of the parties terminates it, which Russia did on Jan. 1.